Fort Santana
The Fort of Santana, built in the strait between the North and South bays in 1761 (where the Hercílio Luz Bridge was later built), was part of the defense complex of the Village of Nossa Senhora do Desterro, completed in 1793, with the construction of the Fort of São João on the opposite bank, on the Mainland. During the Armada Revolt and the Federalist Revolution, between 1893 and 1894, the fort exchanged fire with the rebel squadron that took the capital, being bombed by the cruiser República and the damage was considerable.
After 1907, it served as a meteorological station and, later, it was abandoned and used as a residence by low-income people, until it was listed and restored by the National Historical and Artistic Heritage Institute (Iphan) and passed on to the Military Police of Santa Catarina. Since 1975, it has housed the PM Major Lara Ribas Weapons Museum, which displays historical weapons, centuries-old pieces collected by the major between 1938 and 1945, replicas of uniforms, photographs and insignia, among other objects. Visiting the fort and the museum is free, but booking in advance is required for guided tours.
